How do you know if an animal is a totem? You could feel an affinity for it. I love pigeons! Even though there really aren't any around where I live. Some people call them flying rats and heap upon them the scorn normally reserved for cockroaches and mosquitoes. We recently went to an large, urban environment, which had pigeons.

Why would I assume a pigeon was my totem? I saw the birds several times in one day. While sitting outside, a very persistent pigeon kept me company. He wasn't begging for food, but wasn't leaving either.

What can I learn from a pigeon?

*Pigeons hang out in groups. They accept support from other pigeons. When I decided to share my popcorn with the pigeon, he shared it with his feathered friends.

*Pigeons are bold. They are willing to approach anyone, dodge out into traffic for a delicacy, and investigate anything out of the norm.

*Pigeons can remind you to find your way home or least to find the love you lost somewhere.

*Pigeons remind us of our roots, our foundations.

* A pigeon represents home & family. His message could be as simple as appreciate your family. His message might be pay attention to a loved one.

When you see an aniimal that could be a totem, ask how the animal's message could apply to something in your life. Often, the message isn't always clear immediately. Feel free to Google the totem meaning. Check several sites because they don't always agree.

Trust yourself too. One of the pigeons I saw was black. I noticed the other pigeons didn't assocate with the different colored bird. The black pigeon looked a little shabby and ill. What I assumed was rejection because he was different could have been a protective measure, espcially if the black bird suffered from an avian disease. It could have been a lesson about being slower to judge too.